Phonograph-brake.



J. WITTEK.

PHONOGRAPH BRAKE. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 18. 19i5.

Patented Au 3 SHEETSSHEET I.

1. wmEK;

PHONOGRAPH BRAKE.

APPLICAHON FILED NOV, 18, I915.

Patented Aug. 28, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

InvenZbr Josef 1. WITTEK.

PHONOGRAPH BRAKE- APPLICATION FILED NQV\18.1915.

1,238,240. Patented Aug. 28, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- UNITED STATES: PATENT OFFICE.- v

JOSEF WITTEK, OF CHICAGO, IL'LIivoI's, AssIei'Ion TO THE EMPI E TALKINGMACHINE COMPANY, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CoRPoRATIon or ILLINo'Is'.

PHONOGRAPH-BRAKE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented flug. 28, 1917 Applicationfiled November is, 1915. Serial No; 62,222.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Josnr XVITTEK, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Phonog-raph- Brakes, ofwhich the following is a specification.

My invention relates to automatic braking mechanism for use inconjunction with phonographic and similar machines.

One of the primary objects of my invention is the provision of a deviceof this character which will be accurate and sensitive, which can beeasily and quickly set to any desired stop position and which can beeconomically manufactured and readily applied to a phonograph.

Among the salient features embodied in my improved device is a structurecomprising an actuating arm pivotally mounted on a movable support andcooperating with a latch or trigger, all of which are manually adjustedand set in position in one opera tion by means of said actuating arm.The latch or trigger is disposed in the path of and is tripped by amoving element of the machine at a predetermined point in its travel.thus causing a brake member to be forced into frictional engagement withthe turntable so as to stop the machine.

My invention will be understood by reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in which Figure 1 is an elevational view of a device embodyingmy invention, the parts being shown in set position ready to be trippedby the tone arm of a phonograph;

Fig. 9 is a similar view looking at the opposite side from that shown inFig. 1;

Fig. 3 shows the trigger being pressed into engagement with the tone armof the phonograph when the device is being set;

Fig. 4 shows the position of the trigger with respect to the actuatingarm just before the device-is tripped by the tone arm;

Fig. 5 shows the device just after it has been tripped by the tone arm,the actuating ar-m being in its down position against the brake arm toapply the brake;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the brake mechanism;

Fig. 7 is an end view thereof; and

Fig. 8 is a plan view showing the braking mechanism applied to aphonogra'phic machine.

' Similar reference characters refer to corresponding parts throughoutthe several views. A bracket 1, upon which the operating parts of myinvention are carried, comprises an upright portion provided with alateral flange or a base portion 2 which is adapted to be securedbyscrews or the like to the casing 3 of the phonographic machine. An ovalplate 10 is pivoted near its lower end to the bracket by a rivet 11which frictionally holds said plate in any position to which it has beenadjusted about its pivot, and at 10 there is pivoted on the plate anactuating arm 5. One head of the pivot 10 is adapted to engage with thesides of the recess 1" formed in the bracket 1, which limits the angularpositions which said plate may assume, the purpose of which .will bedescribed later. Upon the plate 10 there is also pivoted at 18 a triggeror latch 17 having'an upwardly extending finger 17 adapted to be engagedby the tone arm '23. A contractile spring 20 is fastened to the lug 13of the actuating arm 5 and the lug 19 of the latch 17. This spring isdisposed to one side of the pivots 10 and 18 so as to normally retainthe finger 21 against the heel or shoulder 12 on the actuating arm.

The actuating arm is provided with a lateral extension 15 adapted toengage an inclined surface 7 formed on the outer face of a braking arm 6made of resilient sheet metal which is fixedly riveted to the bracket 1at 7. This braking arm has at its free end a brake shoe of rubber orother similar material which is adapted to be forced againsttheturntable 9, as shown in Fig. 8. The actuating arm 5 and the latch 17form what might be termed a compound trigger, and when it is desired toset the parts in position to be tripped by the tone arm 28 the actuatingarm is rotated in a counter-clock wise direction by grasping thefinger-piece 16 whereupon the tooth 1 1 will engage with the shoulder 22of the recess 22, and cause a limited clockwise rotation of the latch 17about its pivot 18 until the prong or finger 21 abuts against the screw10 mounted in the lug 1O formed on the plate 10, as shown in Fig. 3,whereupon the plate 10 and all the parts mounted thereon will rotate asa unit about the pivot 11 in a counter-clockwise direction.

It will be understood, of course, that the tone arm 23 has beenpreviously swung inwardly so that the stylus 2st rests in the innermostgroove of the record disk. The plate 10 and the parts carried therebyare swung in a counter-clockwise direction about the pivot 11 as hasbeen previously de scribed, until the finger 17 of the latch abutsagainst the tone arm 23 as shown in Fig. 3. The tone armis then swungoutwardly to starting position near the periphery of the disk and uponrelease oi the finger-piece 16 the actuating arm will be swung on itspivot in a clockwise direction by the spring 20. As this arm begins toswing downwardly the outer edge of the tooth 14 on its upper edge willengage the opposed face 22 of the notch 22 in the latch 17, therebycausing the latch to swing on its pivot 18 in a counterclockwisedirection from the position shown in Fig. 3 to that shown in Fig. 1 todispose the latch finger 21 in the path of the shoulder 12 wherebyfurther movement of the arm 5 is prevented and the parts are locked inset positionl It will be noted that when the parts move from theposition shown in Fig. 8 to that shown in Fig. 1 the plate remainsstationary while the latch 17 and arm 5 swing on their respective'pivots in opposite directions. The trigger finger 17* moves therefore alimited distance toward the tone arm as soon as the tone arm has beenswung outwardly to starting position. The extent of this movement isdetermined by the adjustment of the screw 10. By adjusting this screwthe sensitiveness of thedevice may be regulated. If, for instance, thescrew is threaded inwardly so that the swinging movement of the latchfromthe' position shown in Fig. 3 to Fig. st is slight when the tonearm, is withdrawn, the tone arm will not engage the latch finger untilthe stylus has nearly reached the last record groove and the device willnot be tripped until after the tone arm has passed the. posi tion thatit assumed when the parts were set. If, on the other hand, the screw 10does not project inwardly so far the swinging movement of the finger 17toward the tone arm will be greater so that thetone arm will engage thefinger sooner during its playing movement. and the device will thereforebe tripped quicker. v Adjustment of the screw inwardly therefore retardsthe tripping action of the device and adjustment of the screw outwardlyadvances the tripping action. It will be manifest therefore that byadjusting the screw the device may be regulated to trip at exactly theproper time.

The shoulder 22 cooperating with the tooth 1i insures locking engagementbetween the end of the latch finger 21 and the shoulder 12, as has beenpreviously explained, so that the device when set assumes the positionshown in, Fig. 4. vlVhen the tone arm 23 has traveled from the peripheryof the disk to the last playing groove near the center it engages thelatch finger 17 swings the latch in a clockwise direction about itspivot 18, thereby withdrawing the finger 21 from the shoulder 12 so thatthe actuating arm 5 will be swung by the spring into the position shownin Fig. 5. During the downward movement of the operating end of the arm5 the lateral extension 15 engages the inclined face 7 ofthe brake arm 6and forces the brake shoe 8 into engagement with the turntable 9 to stopthe machine. When the device is reset the brake arm 6 returns to normalposition in the path of the extension 15 by reason of the resiliency ofits metal and the rigid attachment to the bracket 1 through the rivet 7.

It is believed that my invention and its mode of operationwill beunderstood from the foregoing without further description and it shouldbe obvious that the size, shape, proportion and arrangement of thevarious parts shown in the embodiment illustrated herein are capable ofconsiderable modification without departing from the scope of myinvention as defined by the following claims i i hat is claimed is 1. Ina phonograph brake, a supporting bracket, a brake rod secured to saidbracket, a brake shoe carried on said brake rod, a plate pivotallycarried by said supporting bracket, a compound trigger car ried by saidplate, said trigger comprising separate pivotal levers adapted forreleasable locking engagement with each other whereby they may be movedfrom normal to set position, a projection formed 011 one of said pivotallevers for engagement with said brake rod when said trigger is sprung,and a sprin connecting the component parts of said trigger foryieldingly retaining its partsv in set relation.

2. In aphonograph brake, a supporting bracket, a brake rod secured tosaid bracket, a brake shoe carried by said brake, a plate pivotallycarried by said supporting bracket, a compound trigger carried by saidplate, said trigger comprising separate pivotal levers, the pivots ofsaid levers being in alinement with the pivot of said oval plate, a heelformed on one of said levers, a prong formed upon the other lever forengagement with said heel whereby said levers may be moved from normalto set position, a projection formed on one ofsaid levers for engagementwith said brake rod when said trig is sprung, and a spring connectingthe component parts of said trigger and disposed in a plane between saidheel and the plane of said pivot points for yieldingly retaining saidparts in set relation.

3. In a phonograph brake, a supporting bracket, a brake rod secured tosaid bracket, a brake shoe carried by said brake rod, a plate pivotallycarried by said supporting bracket. :1 compound trigger carried by saidplate, said trigger comprising separate pivotal levers, the pivots ofsaid levers being in alinement with the pivot of said plate, a heelformed on one of said levers, a prong formed on the second lever forengagement with said heel, the second lever being formed with a notchdisposed beyond its pivot point with relation to said prong, a lugformed on the first named lever for engagement with the notched portionof the second lever where by said levers may be moved part way fromnormal to set position and then automatically disengaged to permitcontact between said heel and prong whereby the movement of the leversto set position is completed, and a spring connecting said levers in aplane between their pivots and their pronged or heel ends whereby saidlevers are yieldiugly retained in set relation.

In a phonograph brake, a supporting bracket, a brake rod secured to saidbracket, a brake shoe carried by said brake rod, aplate pivotallycarried by said supporting bracket, a lever pivoted to said plate, aprojection formed on said lever for engage ment with the said brake-rod,a lug formed on said lever. a heel formed on said lever upon theopposite side of the lever pivot with relation to said lug, a secondlever pivoted to said plate in alinement with the pivots of said plateand first named lever, and formed witha notched portion for engagementwith the lug of the first named lever, a prong formed on said secondlever for engagement with the heel of said first named lever. a fingerpiece formed terminally of the first named lever whereby it may beraised, when in normal position, to cause the said lug to engage thenotched portion of said second lever and move the same a predetermineddistance toward set position and then release the same to permitengagement of the said prong of the second lever with the heel of thefirst lever to move said members into set position, and a springconnecting said levers whereby they are yieldingly retained in setrelation.

5. In phonographic braking mechanism, the combination of a rotatingelement, a support, a plate pivoted to said support, a trigger pivotedto the upper part of said plate and provided with a finger, an actuatingarm pivoted to said plate below said trigger and having an engagingshoulder, a spring for normally maintaining said finger and shoulder inengaging position, brake member mounted on said support provided on itstre end with a brake shoe, and a tone arm a dapted to engage saidtrigger and release said actuating arm to permit said springto forcesaid actuating arm against said brake member, thus causing the stoppageof said rotating element.

(5. In phonographic braking mechanism, the combination of a rotatingelement, a support, a plate pivoted to said support, a trigger pivotedto the upper part of said plate and having a finger, an actuating armpivoted to said plate below said trigger and having an engagingshoulder, a spring for nor mally maintaining said finger and shoulder inengaging position, brake member mounted on said support provided on itsfree end with a brake shoe, and a moving element adapted to trip saidtrigger, thus causing said actuating arm to cooperate with said brakemember and force the brake shoe into engagement with said rotatingelement.

7. In phonographic braking mechanism, the combination of a rotatingelement, a support,.a plate pivoted to said support, a com pound triggercarried by said plate, resilient means connecting the component parts ofsaid trigger mid-normally maintaining such parts in a normal position, atone arm, and a brake arm normally out of engagement with said triggerand adapted for operative engagement with said rotating element aftersaid tone arm has tripped said trigger.

S. In phonographic braking mechanism, the combination of a rotatingelement, a support, a plate pivoted to said support, a brake memberfastened to said support, a. latch pivoted to said plate adapted forengagement with the tone arm of the phonograph and provided with anextension, an actuating arm for said latch provided with a shoulder, aspring-connecting said latch and actuating arm, said. latch being alsopro vided with a projection for cooperation with a tooth on-saidactuating arm to cause the proper engagement of said shoulder and eX-tension, said actuating arm when released by said latch serving to forcesaid brake member into contact with said rotating element. 7

9. In phonographic braking mechanism, the combination of a rotatingelement, a sup port, a plate pivoted to said support so as to be broughtinto different angular positions, a compound trigger, the componentparts of which are pivoted to said plate, rcsilient means connecting thesaid component parts, and serving normally to maintain such parts in anormal position, a moving element, and a brake arm normally out ofengagement with said trigger and adapted for operative engagement withsaid rotating element after said moving element has engaged saidtrigger,

10 In phonographic braking mechanism, the com'l'iination of a rotatingelement, a support, a plate pivoted to said support so as to be broughtinto different angular positions, means for limiting the angularpositions of said plate, a compound trigger, the component parts ofwhich are pivoted to said plate, resilient means connecting saidcomponent parts, and serving normally to maintain such parts in a normalposition, a moving element, and a brake arm normally out of engagementwith said trigger and adapted for operative engagement with saidrotating element after said moving element has engaged said trigger.

11. In a phonograph braking mechanism, the combination of a support, aplate adjustably mounted thereon, a brake member, a brake-actuating armpivoted on said plate, a trigger pivoted on said plate and adapted tolock said arm in inoperative position, and a spring for forcing said armagainst said brake member to apply the brake.

12. In phonographic braking mechanism, the combination of a turntable, asupport, a plate pivoted to said support, means for limiting the angularpositions of said plate, a trigger pivoted to said plate and providedwith a finger, an actuating arm pivoted to said plate having a shoulderand a lug, resilient means for normally maintaining engagement betweensaid finger and shoulder, said trigger having a recess to receive saidlug when said actuating arm is lifted, thus permitting said plate,trigger and actuating arm to be moved as a unit into an en agingposit-ion with a tone arm, and a brake lever adapted to be forced intoengagement with said turntable when said actuating arm is released fromsaid trigger.

13. In phonographic braking mechanism, the combination of a support, aplate mounted thereon, a trigger and an actuating arm pivoted to saidplate and provided with cooperating parts, spring means connecting saidtrigger and actuating arm for holding said parts in cooperative relationand a brake member adapted to be engaged by said actuatingv arm andforced into operative position when said trigger is disengaged. fromsaid actuating arm.

let. 1n phonographic braKing mechanism, the combination of a support, aplate mounted thereon, a trigger and an actuating arm pivoted to saidplate, spring means connecting said trigger and actuating arm, a brakeadapted to be applied by said spring through the intermediary of saidarm when said trigger is released, and means coacting with said springmeans for restoring said trigger to an operative position when saidactuating arm is manually raised to its normal position.

15. In a phonograph braking mechanism, the combination of a support, aplate adj ustably mounted thereon, a brake, a trigger, and abrake-actuating arm pivoted on said plate in cooperative relation tosaid trigger so that movement of said arm in one direction will adjustsaid plate and set said trig ger to retain said arm and release movementof the trigger will permit reverse movement of said arm to apply thebrake.

16. In a phonograph braking mechanism, the combination of a support, aplate adjustably mounted thereon, a trigger and a brake-actuating armpivoted on said plate, a spring connecting said trigger and brakearm,and adjustable means for regulating the extent of relative movementbetween said trigger and brake-actuating arm during the settingoperation to thereby determine the promptitude with which said triggerwill release said arm.

17. In a phonograph braking mechanism, the combination of a pivotallymounted plate, a trigger and a brake actuating arm pivoted thereon, anadjusting screw where by the extent of swinging movement of said triggeron said plate may be regulated, and a spring connecting'said arm andtrigger and serving to yieldingly hold said trigger in position to locksaid arm, and also serving to move said arm into brake-applying positionupon movement of said trigger to releasing position.

18. In a phonograph braking mechanism, the combination of an adjustableplate, a trigger and an arm carried by said plate, and a brake memberdisposed in the path of movement of said. arm, so that said brake memberwill be moved into operative position when said arm is released by saidtriggen 19. In a phonographic braking mechanism, the combination of aplate, an arm and a trigger independently pivoted on said plate, a brakemember disposed in the path of movement of said arm, and means foractuating said arm when released by said trigger to thereby move thebrake member at right angles to the direction of movement of said arm.

20. In a phonograph brake the combination with a support, of springactuated braking mechanism supported thereby, a trigger to set andrelease the mechanism and comprising an upstanding member frictionallyadjustable into contact with a tone arm at finishing position, a springfor moving said member toward the starting position of the tone armafter said trigger and mech anism have been. manually set, and anadjustable stop for regulating the amount of said movement.

21. In a phonograph brake the combination with a support, of springactuated braking mechanism supported thereby, a trigger to set andrelease the mechanism and comprising an upstanding member frictiona-llyadjustable into contact with a tone arm at finishing position, a springengaging the trigger to rotate said member toward. the

starting position of the tone arm upon setting said trigger andmechanism, and an adjustable stop engaging thetrigger during saidadjustment or the upstanding member to limit the subsequent rotation ofthe trigger.

22. In a phonograph brake the combination with asupport, of springactuated braking mechanism supported thereby, a trigger to set andrelease the mechanism and comprising an upstanding member frictionallyadjustable into contact with a tone arm at finishing position, a springengaging the trigger to rotate said member toward the starting positionof the tone armnpon setting said trigger and mechanism, and an adjustable stop engaging the trigger during said adjustment of theupstanding member to limit the subsequent rotation of the trigger.

23. In a phonograph brake the combination with a braking element, oftrigger sup porting nieans, a spring actuated lever for operating saidelement, a heel on said lever, a trigger pivoted on said support andcomprising a prong positioned to contact with the heel to hold saidlever in retracted pos tion, an upstanding member for contact with atone arm, said upstanding member being rotatably adjustable to a givenposition with respect to the tone arm when said prong and heel areseparated and being spring pressed slightly toward the tone arm fromsaid given position upon contact between said prong and heel, and ascrew adj ustably fixed in the path of said prong to limit said slightspring pressed movement.

24. The combination of a braking element, means for controlling theposition of said element, said means including a member manuallyadjustable into engagement with a tone arm when in finishing position,means -for automatically moving said member to ward starting position ofthe tone arm after said manual adjustment has been eitected, and meanswhereby the extent of said automatic movement may be regulated.

The combination of a braking element, means including a manuallyadjustable trigger for controlling the position of said braking element,a spring arranged to move the tone arm engaging portion of said triggertoward the tone arm of a phonograph after the manual adjustment of saidtrigger has been effected, and adjustable means whereby the extent ofsaid spring-caused movement may be regulated.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto atiixedmy signature. I

J OSEF WITTEK.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

